Copenhagen to London

Faculty: Dale Isaak and Maco Hamilton
Class meeting time: Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Trip Dates: May, 2024

Amsterdam

Highlights

This study will take a tour of Northwestern Europe starting in Denmark and ending in Iceland. We will spend time in Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, England and Iceland during the course of this trip. The course will focus on the region’s geographical beauty, history and culture with a secondary emphasis on how those elements have shaped modern western society.  In preparation for the trip, students will explore the general history and culture of the countries to be visited through readings and presentations

Our trip begins in Copenhagen, Denmark, the “Happiest City in the Happiest Country in the World” according to a no lesser authority than the “World Happiness Report”.  Highlights of Denmark will include eating a Danish pastry (actually called wienerbrod in Denmark) made by a Danish baker, seeing the “Little Mermaid” statue in the home city of Hans Christian Anderson, viewing the crown jewels in Rosenborg Castle and strolling along the Copenhagen City Walk. 

As we travel South from Copenhagen to Paris, we will make overnight stops in Hamburg, Amsterdam and Brussels with visits to locations that are sure to be enjoyed by art, science, history and food fans alike.  Highlights along the way will include exploring Hamburg’s Speicherstadt (Warehouse District), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the St.Pauli Nachtmarkt (The Beatles regularly played here before they became THE Beatles), visiting Anne Frank’s House, the Van Gogh Museum and touring the city on bikes while in Amsterdam, eating Belgian waffles and chocolates while actually in Belgium and for the science inspired, you can ascend to the top of a 100 meter replica of an atom (165 billion times larger than the real thing) while in Brussels.    

From Brussels, we will travel to Paris, “The City of Light” for a four-night stay.  Highlights of our stay in Paris will include eating at French bakeries, visiting the Palace of Versailles, seeing the Mona Lisa in The Louvre, strolling the Champs Elysees and finishing off the tour with a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower at sunset.

We finish off our time on the main continent with a high-speed train trip from Paris through the Chunnel to London where we will spend four nights generally speaking the local language without a second thought.  Highlights will include a trip to the Tower of London, the British Museum, seeing a show in the West End Theater District (think Broadway but better because you are in London) and a trip to an English Premiere League Soccer game. 

Our trip concludes with a couple night layover stay in Iceland on our return flight to Portland.  While in Iceland we will enjoy the soothing waters of the Blue Lagoon geo-thermal pool and tour through the spectacular scenery of the world-famous Golden Circle, experiencing thundering waterfalls, high cliffs and towering geysers.  

Tentative Itinerary

Day 1 Depart from PDX
Day 2 Arrive in Copenhagen
Day 3 Copenhagen
Day 4 Copenhagen
Day 5 Travel to Hamburg
Day 6 Hamburg
Day 7 Travel to Amsterdam
Day 8 Amsterdam
Day 9 Amsterdam
Day 10 Travel to Brussels
Day 11 Travel to Paris
Day 12 Paris
Day 13 Paris
Day 14 Paris
Day 15 Travel to London
Day 16 London
Day 17 London
Day 18 London
Day 19 Travel to Iceland
Day 20 Iceland
Day 21 Travel home